10 More Ways To Use Your New Dispensary App’s Push Notifications
Ah, push notifications - those little pop-ups on our screens that remind us of an ongoing sale, a new blog post, or even a friend's birthday. While often seen as just another marketing tool, push notifications can offer so much more. Especially when you're running a dispensary, these tiny reminders can be your secret weapon to drive engagement, boost sales, and foster customer loyalty.
But, how do you move beyond the standard promotional alerts and make your push notifications truly stand out? How can you use them creatively to not only engage but also delight your users? The answer lies in understanding the untapped potential of push notifications and learning to use them in innovative ways.
In this blog, we will uncover 10 unique & practical ways to use your new dispensary app's push notifications. From leveraging gamification elements to soliciting reviews for recent purchases, these strategies will help you transform your push notifications from simple alerts into powerful engagement tools.
So, buckle up and get ready to revolutionize your user engagement strategy.
1. Budtender Tip of the Day
The cannabis industry is complex and rapidly evolving, with new strains, products, and consumption methods continually emerging. For both newcomers and seasoned consumers, navigating this landscape can be challenging. This is where the role of a budtender - a professional who specializes in serving customers at cannabis dispensaries - becomes crucial.
With the knowledge and expertise of your dispensary budtenders, you can educate your customers about responsible cannabis consumption through daily tips shared via push notifications. These tips could range from advice on choosing the right strain, guidelines on dosage, and tips for safe storage, to information about the latest research.
By incorporating the "Budtender Tip of the Day" into your push marketing strategy:
- You promote safe and responsible cannabis use among your customers, which is not only ethical but can also enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- It positions your dispensary as a trusted source of information, differentiating you from competitors and potentially attracting more customers.
2. Accessory Recommendations and Pairings
The world of cannabis consumption is vast and varied, with an array of strains and a multitude of accessories like vaporizers, pipes, and grinders. Each strain may have unique characteristics and pair well with specific accessories for optimal enjoyment.
By using push notifications, you can guide your customers through this intricate landscape. If a customer recently purchased a particular strain, you could suggest a compatible vaporizer or pipe that enhances that strain's experience. Similarly, if they bought a new grinder, you could recommend strains that are particularly suited to that method of preparation.
This strategy helps customers get the most out of their purchases, enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction. It also encourages further purchases by bringing relevant products to their attention. Lastly, it positions your dispensary as a knowledgeable guide in the cannabis world, fostering trust and loyalty among your customers.
These personalized recommendations can stimulate more frequent engagement with your app. Because as customers receive helpful suggestions tailored to their preferences and purchase history, they're likely to shop on your app more regularly.
3. Budget Marketing
Push notifications can be an effective instrument for budget marketing.
What is Budget Marketing?
Budget marketing is about understanding your customers' spending habits and tailoring your promotions accordingly. One way to do this is by timing your alerts strategically. Recognizing the financial rhythms of your customer base can help you optimize your marketing strategy.
For instance, consider the payday cycle. Most people receive their paychecks at similar times - usually at the end or beginning of the month. During this period, customers may be more willing to splurge on high-ticket items. Therefore, near payday, it would be strategic to push notifications advertising your premium products or pricier bundles. This not only excites users about the potential of treating themselves but also maximizes the possibility of higher revenue for your business.
However, during leaner times of the month, when budgets might be tighter, the strategy should shift. This is the time to promote smaller ticket offers, discounts, or value-for-money deals. By doing so, you maintain customer engagement and continue driving sales, even when customers might be more careful with their spending.
Furthermore, this approach demonstrates a level of understanding and consideration for your customers' needs and financial situations, which can enhance customer loyalty and satisfaction. It shows that your dispensary is not just interested in selling products, but also in providing value and catering to their customers' varying needs.
4. Blog Alerts
Content is king so many dispensaries maintain a blog to educate their audience about cannabis, share industry news, or provide tips on responsible consumption. These blogs are valuable resources that can position your business as a thought leader. However, ensuring that your audience knows when a new blog post is available can be challenging.
By sending blog alerts through push notifications, you can instantly notify your users about new content. A compelling headline or a brief teaser can entice users to click through to read the full post. This can significantly increase viewership and drive more traffic to your blog.
Moreover, this strategy encourages an omnichannel approach to user engagement. While users interact with your app for product browsing or purchasing, they're also prompted to engage with your blog content. This multifaceted approach not only increases overall user engagement but also enhances their connection with your brand.
Ultimately, regular blog alerts can foster habitual engagement. As users come to expect quality content from your blog, they're likely to check back frequently, boosting return visits to both your blog and your dispensary mobile app.
5. Birthday Rewards and Special Occasion Offers
Everyone enjoys feeling special on their birthday or anniversary, and a personalized offer or reward can significantly enhance that feeling. By using push notifications, you can send these personalized rewards directly to your customers' devices when their special day arrives.
This strategy serves several purposes. Firstly, it helps to boost sales. A special offer or discount might be just the incentive a customer needs to make a purchase they've been considering. Secondly, it fosters customer loyalty. By acknowledging and celebrating your customers' special occasions, you show them that they are valued and appreciated, which can strengthen their connection with your brand.
This personalized approach can differentiate your dispensary from competitors. In a crowded market, the businesses that stand out are often those that go the extra mile for their customers. By celebrating special occasions with personalized offers, you can position your dispensary as a business that cares about its customers on a more personal level.
6. Order Updates and Status Notifications
Keeping customers informed about the status of their orders enhances transparency and significantly improves the customer experience. Whether an order is being prepared, out for delivery, or ready for pickup, each step is an opportunity to keep the customer engaged and reassured.
By using push notifications, you can send real-time updates directly to your customers' devices. This not only keeps them in the loop but also reduces the chances of them reaching out to customer service for order updates, thus reducing the load on your support team.
Here are other benefits to consider:
- Using alerts for this use case also provides peace of mind to customers, reassuring them that their order is being handled efficiently.
- It fosters trust by demonstrating your commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction.
- It encourages further engagement with your app.
Moreover, these notifications can help manage customer expectations regarding delivery times, reducing the likelihood of dissatisfaction due to unmet expectations. If there's a delay, notifying the customer promptly can help maintain their satisfaction.
7. Loyalty Program Updates
Customer loyalty programs are a proven way to encourage repeat business, boost customer retention, and foster a sense of connection between customers and your brand. Regular updates about such programs can keep customers engaged and motivated to reach the next milestone or redeem their rewards.
By using push notifications, you can send real-time updates about your loyalty program directly to your customers' devices. You can inform them about their current points balance, available rewards, upcoming milestones, or changes to the program. This not only keeps them informed but also encourages continued participation in the program.
This way, customers can make the most of their membership by reminding them to utilize their earned rewards or points. And lastly, this strategy fosters a sense of accomplishment as they progress towards milestones, enhancing their satisfaction and connection with your dispensary.
8. Solicit Reviews for Recent Purchases
Product reviews play a crucial role in the online shopping experience. They provide valuable feedback to both businesses and customers. Businesses can use this feedback to improve their products or services, while customers use it to make informed purchasing decisions. Therefore, encouraging users to review their recent purchases can be beneficial for all parties involved.
Using push notifications, you can prompt users to leave a review after they've had some time to experience the product. A simple message asking for their feedback can be enough to encourage them to share their thoughts.
These alerts provide you with valuable feedback about your products. Positive reviews can affirm that you're on the right track, while constructive criticism can highlight areas for improvement. Secondly, it helps other customers make informed purchase decisions.
Real experiences from fellow users can be more persuasive than any product description.
9. Event Notifications and RSVPs
The cannabis industry is vibrant and ever-evolving, with a plethora of events ranging from educational seminars, and product launches, to cannabis festivals. These events offer valuable opportunities for consumers to deepen their understanding of cannabis, discover new products, and engage with the cannabis community.
However, ensuring that your customers are aware of these events can be challenging. This is where push notifications come into play. By sending event notifications directly to your users' devices, you can ensure that they are informed about upcoming events in real-time. This not only raises awareness but also increases the likelihood of their participation.
Take it a step further by incorporating an RSVP feature into your push notifications. Users can confirm their attendance with just a tap, saving them the hassle of going through a lengthy registration process. This convenience can significantly boost event attendance rates.
Moreover, the RSVP feature allows you to anticipate attendance numbers, enabling better planning and execution of your events. You can gauge user interest in different types of events and use this data to tailor future events according to your customer’s preferences.
It’s far more than just a marketing tool. When used creatively, they can enhance user engagement, optimize event planning, and provide invaluable insights into customer preferences. So, the next time you plan a cannabis-related event, remember to leverage the power of push notifications and RSVPs in your dispensary app.
10. Gamification
Introduce gamification elements within a dispensary app for that added element of fun to the user experience.
Gamification involves applying game-design elements in non-game contexts to enhance user engagement and satisfaction. This could include referral incentives, notifications about product restocks, exclusive pre-order opportunities, invitations to product demos and tastings, or geolocation marketing.
By using push notifications, you can introduce these gamification elements directly to your customers' devices. For instance, you could send a push notification encouraging users to complete a milestone on their apps by referring friends in exchange for discounts on sought-after strains, creating a win-win situation for both parties. Similarly, alerting users about product restocks or exclusive pre-order opportunities can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, encouraging faster sales.
In conclusion, push notifications can do much more than just advertise. With creativity, they can be used to educate, engage, and reward your customers, ultimately driving sales and fostering loyalty.
Harness the power of push notifications with your very own dedicated Dispensary Mobile App by Digital Awesome:
Disclaimer: Tips, advice, and insights provided on this blog are intended for informational purposes only and should be considered as recommendations and/or market news. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and ensure compliance with federal and state laws before making any business & marketing decisions pertaining to their own dispensaries and promotional channels. Digital Awesome will not be held liable for any damages or penalties incurred as a result of following the advice or information presented in this blog.